David Mamet Writer, essayist, screenwriter, playwright, director Date of Birth: 30.11.1947 Country: USA

Biography of David Mamet

David Mamet is a renowned American writer, essayist, screenwriter, playwright, and director. He is widely known for his intelligent and concise dialogues, often with a twist, which has earned him the reputation as the creator of "Mamet speak." His works have been well-received by audiences, readers, professionals, and critics alike.

Mamet was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of a teacher and a lawyer. Even as a schoolboy, Mamet started working as an assistant waiter. After completing high school, he attended Goddard College in Vermont. His name first gained recognition in 1976 after writing plays such as "The Duck Variations," "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," and "American Buffalo." In 1984, Mamet received the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony nomination for his play "Glengarry Glen Ross." He was also nominated for a Tony for his play "Speed-the-Plow" in 1988. Mamet's screenplays for the films "The Verdict" (1982) and "Wag the Dog" (1997) received Oscar nominations. Over the past fifteen years, Mamet has published several books, and his play "American Buffalo" has been running on Broadway since October 31, 2008.

Mamet co-founded the Atlantic Theater Company and has worked extensively in theater, film, and literature. His first film as a screenwriter, "The Postman Always Rings Twice," was released in 1981. Prior to that, Mamet had already written the screenplay for "The Verdict," which was nominated for an Oscar and released in 1982. He also wrote the screenplay for the famous film "The Untouchables." In 1987, he made his directorial debut with the film "House of Games," starring his wife, Lindsay Crouse. In his later works, such as "Spanish Prisoner" and "Heist," Mamet continued to work with his regular ensemble cast, including Crouse, William H. Macy, Joe Mantegna, Rebecca Pidgeon (his second wife), and Ricky Jay. As an independent filmmaker, Mamet often funds his own films by working on high-budget Hollywood scripts under the pseudonym "Richard Weisz," such as his work on the script for "Ronin." In 2000, Mamet directed the acclaimed Russian film "Catastrophe," and more recently, the action thriller "Redbelt."

In addition to his work in theater, film, and literature, Mamet has also worked extensively in television. He is the author and co-producer of the ongoing television series "The Unit" and has created two television commercials for Ford in 2007. He has also written scripts for several episodes of the television series "Hill Street Blues" in 1987.

Mamet's distinctive style, known as "Mamet speak," is characterized by cynical yet sharp, intelligent, and impactful dialogues. He often uses quotation marks and italics to highlight specific words or phrases, revealing the nuances of the characters' speech or exposing their lies. Mamet has frequently criticized writers who strive for smooth and coherent dialogue, emphasizing the importance of authentic and realistic communication.

Mamet has also collaborated with radio. He adapted his famous play "Glengarry Glen Ross" for BBC Radio and created several new radio plays, including the comedy "Keep Your Pantheon, or On the Whole I'd Rather Be in Mesopotamia," which aired in May 2007.

Furthermore, Mamet has been a blogger for "The Huffington Post" since May 2005. His posts often consist of his hand-drawn political cartoons, reflecting his active involvement during the Iraq War.

Mamet was previously married to actress Lindsay Crouse from 1977 to 1990, and they have two children, Will and Zosia. In 1991, he remarried to actress, poet, and singer Rebecca Pidgeon, with whom he has two children, Clara and Noah.